We often only think about health as the absence of disease. But, in reality, health is about balance in one’s physical, mental and social existence.

To that end, you’ll notice that some of the Extension professionals in your communities have a new title: County Extension Agent – Family and Community Health (CEA-FCH).

The mission of these professionals to provide quality, relevant information remains the same; but, their titles have been changed to reflect the role that Extension plays in improving the “health” of Texas’ families and communities.

Swing by your county Extension office and get re/acquainted with your CEA-FCH. Want to help make a difference in your community? Ask her/him how you can become a Master Wellness Volunteer.

With the anticipation of spring and warmer weather also comes the excitement of local Farmer’s Markets. To prepare Master Wellness Volunteers to provide food and recipe demonstrations in this setting, AgriLife Extension held a Cooking with Confidence training at the Dallas Research and Extension Center earlier this month.

Fourteen volunteers were provided food safety education by Rebecca Dittmar, Extension Food Safety Specialist, and Courtney Davis, Denton County Extension Agent,which included special considerations for outdoor venues, what to do and what not to do. In addition Jennifer Reeves, Llano County Extension Agent, led an overview of Cooking with Confidence, a program she developed and has delivered at several locations across the state. Brittany Martin, Dallas County Extension Agent, provided specifics on lesson plans, talking points and recipes applicable for Farmer’s Market delivery which was followed with volunteer hands on practice and small group food demonstrations.

As a result of the training, the Master Wellness Volunteers are well prepared for the variety of upcoming opportunities in Dallas, Denton, and Collin Counties during the spring, summer, and fall Farmer’s Market season.

So one of my favorite movies is The Jerk (Airplane being another…but I digress). I love how Navin gets so excited when the new phone book comes and he has his very own listing!

Well that’s how I feel today – excited!! As a sign of its growing maturity and popularity, the Master Wellness Volunteer Program now has its own email address: mwv@ag.tamu.edu

Gone are the days of searching and searching for someone to contact about your MWV questions and/or the mysteries of life. You can now direct them to one place and we’ll do our best to get you help/answers.

Where does time go? With all the great work done at all levels of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, but especially by the Master Wellness Volunteers, 2016 flew by and lives were changed in the process.

And now the work continues. 2017 is shaping up to be the best year ever for the Master Wellness Volunteer Program: new counties, new partners, new trainings and new educational opportunities.

It’s a great time to be a Master Wellness Volunteer. And a great time to recruit a friend or some friends to join you in helping Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service achieve its vision: “Help Texans Better Their Lives.”

Thanks for joining us in Dallas, either in person or online, to celebrate 10 years of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Master Wellness Volunteer Program. It was a great day of learning, networking and sharing. When looking at expanding the program into new counties, new program areas and with new partners, we start with a great foundation you all have laid for us. Thank you.

Click Here (PDF) to download more information related to the event, including the schedule.

See you in Dallas! What’s that you say? You can’t make it to Dallas? No worries. Get in touch with your County Extension Agent and see about organizing a “watch party” in your county. We will broadcast the conference LIVE online for those unable to join us in person.

Once upon a time (2006) in a land far far away (Dallas/Ft. Worth Metro Area) enterprising Extension professionals saw an opportunity to recruit and train volunteers to support Extension outreach and education related to health and nutrition. Please plan to join us 21 July to celebrate 10 years of volunteer engagement and program success during our 2nd Ever Master Wellness Volunteer Conference.

Watch this space for further details. If you’re unable to join us in Dallas, we’ll plan to broadcast the conference online. Talk to your County Extension Agent about organizing a watch party! If you have ideas for topics, trainings or activities to make this a meaningful conference experience, please let us know.

Don’t you just love new things? I do. I’m usually a pretty content person but new stuff gets me all excited.

Thanks to a committed team of educators who planned/executed it, Renda Nelson who recorded it and all the behind the scenes people who posted it, we’re glad to have A Fresh Start to a Healthier You! available as a training option for Master Wellness Volunteers. You’ll find it available for enrollment via the Extension Online Course System.

A Fresh Start to a Healthier You! is a holistic adult-learning series that uses practical experience and information to help change lives and improve health. Participants also gain support and understanding from the instructor and other participants while learning how to provide safe, healthy, and economical meals for their families and themselves.

A part of the Better Living for Texans (BLT) program, A Fresh Start to a Healthier You! includes research-based lessons that integrate the importance of healthy nutrition with an emphasis on increasing fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, food safety, and food resource management. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Food and Nutrition Services sponsor this program.

Not to sound too much like a TV commercial hawking a new medication but…talk to your County Extension Agent to see if A Fresh Start to a Healthier You! is right for you (and your county).

…it opens a window. You might have noticed when you complete one of the MWV Online training courses that you get “locked out” of it. It’s not just you – you ARE locked out. Locked out for a year.

The system is set up to provide continuing education units for a variety of certifications, many of which prohibit retaking the courses more than once annually. So the MWV Trainings get caught up in the mix.

Pro Tip: Download all the course materials as you’re taking the course, before you get to the end, so you can refer to them later.

You can also contact your County Extension Agent to get copies of the materials. But there’s yet another way…if you really need back in there: contact the help desk via the Help Desk tab – they can reset your enrollment.

Have you ever thought about how many times a day you sign your name? And how many times you sign your name and perhaps don’t even read through the entirety of what you’re signing. Scary, huh?

Master Wellness Volunteers play a big role in helping extend the outreach and education of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. And we appreciate it. But we do not take it lightly. We want all parties to understand the roles and responsibilities they’re taking on by agreeing to be a MWV. So, many moons ago, perhaps, or just yesterday, when you filled out your application, you attested to the following with your signature:

I would like to become a Master Wellness Volunteer. I understand that should I be selected for the training program, I will be required to complete 40 hours of training. Upon completion of the training, I will be required to return 40 hours of volunteer service by the end of the year under the direction of the county AgriLife Extension agent. I also understand that as a volunteer, I will represent Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and will be called upon to provide educational programs and disseminate educational materials. I also understand that in this capacity I cannot use my status as a volunteer to promote any personal opinions, business, or services or the opinions or services of other companies or agencies. I must present the research-based information on which Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s educational programs and services are based.

It’s a long paragraph (almost as long as this post!) but it’s very important. Take a moment to re-read it, especially the bolded part, and make sure you’re honoring your commitment to the Agency, your county and the people you’re reaching. Please let your County Extension Agent know if you have any questions or concerns.